Dr Davy's Agricultural Discourse. 341 



other implement of husbandry likely to economise labour. In a let- 

 ter with which I have been favoured by Dr Shier, of the 3d of No- 

 vember last, he makes mention of the thorough-drained field as in 

 a very prosperous state. Canes grown in it, cut when only six 

 months old, gave a juice of the specific gravity of 1'070; and an 

 imperial gallon of this juice yielded 1 lb. 2oz. of beautiful musco- 

 vado sugar, the molasses from which contained only about one-third 

 as much salt as molasses from other fields of the estate with open 

 drains. For the success of the experiments at Lamberts, in this 

 island, we have the authority of the Leeward Agricultural Society. 

 In their report, dated the 2d of last May, it is stated, that a field of 

 2^ acres, which in wet seasons had always failed, drained in April 

 1846, did not suffer at any period of the late wet season ; " whilst 

 the field adjoining, although of somewhat greater elevation, suf- 

 fered materially from the effects of water, making, on an average, 

 one hogshead less per acre than the drained field, although manure 

 had been applied to the former and not to the latter." And I have 

 had confirmation of these favourable results, and I am glad to say, 

 on an extended scale, from the resident manager on the estate, 

 Mr Phillips. In a note with which he has obliged me, of the 1st 

 of this month, he states, that 8 acres of land are now drained and 

 planted, land similarly situated to that just mentioned as, before 

 draining, liable to suffer from heavy rain, the bad eifect of which it 

 has entirely escaped this year, and that the canes on it are very su- 

 perior to any on the estate. He adds, that there are now altogether 

 15 acres drained, and that he hopes to complete 20 acres before the 

 end of the year. He specially notices, as worthy of remark, that, 

 during the severe drought some months ago, the canes on the drained 

 laud suft'ered least ; and, yet that the soil of this land, compax-ed 

 with any other, always appeared drier and mere friable ; — all re- 

 sults, let mc observe, in accordance with the principle of thorough- 

 draining, and the general experience we have of its effects. 



I must not conclude the subject of draining, without briefly ad- 

 verting to the qualities of soil which may be considered as requiring, 

 and to the contrary ones not needing it. If the soil be sandy, or 

 abounding in marl, with a sandy or marly subsoil, it will be suffi- 

 ciently porous to water ; water will not collect and stagnate on it, 

 except, indeed, its situation be low, and almost on a level with the 

 sea high water-mark. Moreover, if the soil be shallow, only 3 or 4 

 feet deep, resting on porous rock, such as the shell and_coral limestone 

 of Barbadocs commonly is, thorough-draining would be superfluous, 

 could it bo effected. Occasionally, however, and not unfrequently, 

 this rock is covered with an adventitious incrustation of carbonate of 

 lime, impervious equally to rain-water and the roots of plants. To 

 give fertility to land .so situated, this crust should be broken through, 

 as 1 believe it boinctimes is, preparatory to the pUmtiug of canes. In 

 31alta, I may rcmaik iucideutuliy, where a like crust forms on the 



